Early intervention safety programmes show remarkable results.

Further evidence is continuing to emerge regarding the benefits of early intervention safety programmes like The Children’s Traffic Club.

In a newly released report from Action for Children and ResPublica child safety has been related to the agenda to encourage greater local decision making and a shift in the ownership of assets and of initiative into the hands of local groups and communities. These changes can be used to deliver new ways of supporting children, young people and families according to Phillip Blond, Director of ResPublica, an independent, non-partisan public policy think-tank established in 2009.

Building connections between children and connections between families – that is, developing social capital around children – makes children safer. Research comparing the experience of children living in different communities shows strong correlations between low levels of trust and low quality of environment on the one hand and poor health, negligent parenting, child abuse and low achievement on the other hand. Programmes that systematically build connections and social capital show remarkable results, both in terms of how a community can develop new norms of good neighbourliness, and in terms of child health and safety.

Dame Clare Tickell, CE of Action for Children states “The Coalition Government has made clear its intention to promote early intervention programmes and approaches. It has also made clear its intention to offer far greater civic involvement for individuals in their communities.”

This report makes the case for Government to open up its ‘big society’ proposals to children and young people, particularly those who face disadvantage and neglect. If the current, or any future Government is serious about early intervention, and serious about truly opening up community engagement to those that can most benefit from it, then now is the time to take the bold steps outlined in this report.

The Club addresses many of the areas mentioned in the report and can make a positive impact in relation to safety and well-being.

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